Cobden
Cobden, MN · Local Life
festival-of-light.com
Kiwanis Holiday Lights – Dates, Costs, and Attractions
Kiwanis Holiday Lights is a yearly lighting festival in Mankato, Minnesota that transforms Mankato’s Sibley Park into a bright and cheerful holiday escape. With colorful lights and fun Christmas displays everywhere you look, the festival celebrates the season by bringing families and friends together in a cozy Christmas wonderland filled with good vibes. Thousands of sparkling lights and festive decorations light up the event, creating a joyful experience that visitors of all ages can easily enjoy.
St. Peter Herald
SouthPoint Financial demolishes Taco John's lot, Jake's Stadium Pizza announces closure
Jan. 6 marked the final Taco Tuesday for the former Taco John’s property at 103 N. Minnesota Ave. as construction vehicles demolished the vacant fast food building to make way for SouthPoint Financial Credit Union’s new location in St. Peter. The not-for-profit financial institution announced their commitment on Tuesday to building a modern facility at the old Taco John’s lot later this year. Construction is expected to begin in late Spring, 2026. “Our cooperative exists to empower people to enhance lives, and that starts with being present in the places our members live and work,” said Jay Gostonczik, CEO of SouthPoint Financial Credit Union. “This investment in St. Peter reflects our long‑standing commitment to the City of St. Peter and our confidence in the community’s future.” SouthPoint, which serves individuals and businesses across 30 counties in Minnesota has had an office in St. Peter since October, 2015. Its current location, is at 105 South Third Street. In a press release, Gostonczik said the move would deepen the financial institution’s ties to St. Peter. “St. Peter is a vibrant, cooperative‑minded community,” said Gostonczik. “We’re honored to deepen our roots here and look forward to helping more neighbors achieve their goals.” Next
KEYC
Forestville Mystery Cave State Parks hosts candlelit trail walk
Bring Me The News
The lineup for the 2026 Lakefront Music Fest in Prior Lake is now complete
The lineup for the 2026 Lakefront Music Fest in Prior Lake is now complete with the addition of George Thorogood & The Destroyers to the bill. The "Bad to the Bone" hitmaker will bring his band to Lakefront Park for the two-day festival, joining the rock-themed Friday, July 10, alongside headliner Billy Idol and Jefferson Starship.
mprnews.org
'Snow is a giant mirror' — an art exhibition captures the color and quiet of peak Minnesota winter
Winter is not white, says Wendy DePaolis. DePaolis is the curator of art and sculpture at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska. And, sure enough, standing in the arboretum’s Reedy Gallery, DePaolis is surrounded by painted and woven winter scenes that burst with color, from the North Shore to rural Minnesota.
Bring Me The News
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy is heading to Treasure Island in March
You might be a redneck if you find yourself at Treasure Island on March 14. The resort and casino has announced that comedian Jeff Foxworthy is coming to its Event Center as part of his current tour. The Blue Collar Comedy veteran and TV star is still taking to stages...
KEYC
visitfairmontmn.com
Where to Get Coffee and Breakfast in Fairmont, Minnesota
Where to Get Coffee and Breakfast in Fairmont, Minnesota. Looking for a great cup of coffee and a tasty breakfast in Fairmont? Whether you want a quick drink on the go or a full morning meal, Fairmont has plenty of spots to start your day. From local cafés to restaurants right off Interstate 90, here’s a guide to the best places for coffee and breakfast in town.
KEYC
Kato Living - Ring in the new Year with Brittany Bakes
photobyjohnbo.com
Cellpic Sunday—The Display at the Ranch Restaurant
In the entryway of The Ranch Restaurant in Fairmont, Minnesota, visitors are greeted not just by the scents of wondrous food but by a sprawling miniature world that stretches across a wall like a moment frozen in time. This intricate diorama, the Garman Wall, immerses restaurant guests in a gritty, lifelike cityscape. On the left, café patrons chat outside the White Owl Café, a kid leans against weathered bricks, and storefronts like Gunther Food and Drake’s Bakery embody the mid-20th-century American charm. Even power poles and electrical wiring, which are usually distracting, blend seamlessly into this urban artwork.
karimeawayblog.com
Why River Rock Coffee Is One of Minnesota’s Best Hidden Gems
Minnesota’s small towns are full of surprises, and sometimes the best discoveries come from slowing down and wandering Main Street. In the heart of St. Peter, Minnesota, you’ll find one of those places — River Rock Coffee — a cozy, welcoming coffee shop that perfectly captures the charm of a small-town hidden gem.
KEYC
Deadline extended for Fairmont Opera House fundraising campaign
FAIRMONT, Minn. (KEYC) - The Fairmont Opera House is getting a little more time to raise the funds it needs for major repairs. With an original goal of the end of this year, the Board of Directors voted to extend the fundraising deadline into 2026 to save the historic building,
St. Peter Herald
Tremendous Brewing hosting musical, magical, acrobatic vaudeville show
Tremendous Brewing Co. is kicking off 2026 with a variety show of music, magic and circus acts straight out of 1926. The upcoming production, Tremendous Vaudeville, being billed as “A Night of Wonders, Winks and Wild Talent,” seeks to bring back a modernized vision of the variety saloons of old that once flowered across the country more than a century ago. Organizer Jeffrey Ford, a Visiting Assistant Professor at Gustavus Adolphus College, said the Jan. 10 show began with a desire find a venue for his four-piece jazz band, Belleville Rendezvous. As a lover of the circus arts, Ford’s vision for the show expanded into a variety show that would not only harken back to the vaudeville era but to local variety shows in the area like Ben Findley’s Feast of Fun. With the help of his pole-dancing instructor and co-producer Amy Gould, owner of Chrome Pole in Le Sueur, Ford had little trouble attracting a wide range of talent for the upcoming showcase. “The number of people we had to turn down because we’re already at two hours is pretty large,” said Ford. “I think if we did another one, we would not have a shortage of people wanting
The Kenyon Leader
SCENE JANUARY - Events across SoMinn Scene region offer winter fun
The Sleigh and Cutter Festival in Waseca welcomes visitors from all around the region as they embrace the winter season. Organizers can even boast that they offer the longest-running sleigh and cutter festival in the nation, as 2026 marks the 76th anniversary of S&C in Waseca. Jennifer Burt has been involved, along with several other committee members, for the past 10 years. She said there is something for everyone to enjoy at the festival, especially since it runs over two months, with events spread out from January until March. The main festival weekend this year, which features a dinner, a dance and the Frosty reveal, is Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28. Another highlight is the parade on Saturday, Feb. 2. There will also be fireworks, ice sculptures, a kite show and more. “The parade is always a hit. The kite show is newer but always a fan favorite. And then there’s the fireworks in February,” Burt said. All ages are welcome to all events, and most events are free of charge. “People come from all over. Many units in the parade come from several hours away. Any chance to get their horses out in the winter,” Burt said.
Waseca County News
Hopes for colder winter open door to outdoor recreation
After enjoying a couple of years of milder weather, this winter has hit southern Minnesota hard if inconsistently, with cold temperatures and snow blanketing the area at the end of November, followed by a general warmup and then more snow after Christmas. While the fluctuation in temperatures and mix of precipitation forms that has hit the region at times may produce a bit of whipsaw, a few good Alberta Clippers have the region on pace for a winter that is at least notably colder than the last few years. While not particularly strong, a “La Nina” pattern of cooler temperatures in the tropical Pacific is again creating the potential for a winter that is colder and snowier than normal. Most recent winters have featured at least a modest La Nina effect, aside from 2023-24. Yet over the last several decades, weather patterns have shifted so significantly that today’s normal is relatively mild by historical standards. Over the last half century, average winter temperatures have increased by 5 to 6 degrees. While the cold might not be as consistently brutal as it once was, La Nina winters are still typically delivering plenty of precipitation. In addition, projections from NOAA’s Climate Prediction
springfieldap.com
Sounds of the Season- Springfield Public School Concerts
The Springfield Public School Music Department presented its Winter Choral Concert to two packed performances on Sunday, December 21. While originally scheduled for Thursday, December 18, the event was rescheduled to the Sunday date due to the weather. The concert featured several guest musicians and well over 200 singers in the Junior High Choir, Chorale and Concert Choir.
thebasscast.com
January Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Report By Captain Chad Green
🎣 Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Forecast: January. Anglers are encouraged to maximize their time on the water and practice catch and release whenever possible to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of our fisheries. CategoryPartner / ResourceContact / Website. Tackle & GearIndian Point Marina (at Hales Ford Bridge)Visit in...